Students have completed one of the most demanding and rewarding parts of their Kenya expedition with an unforgettable trek on Mount Kenya.
The challenge began as the group entered Mount Kenya National Park at an altitude of 2,650m. From there, students started their ascent towards Old Moses Camp, covering 9km and climbing a further 550m. Spirits were high as the team took their first steps on what would become an incredible journey.
The second day presented the longest and toughest stage of the trek. Students covered 15km and climbed a further 1,000m to reach Shipton’s Camp at an altitude of 4,200m. In a remarkable achievement, every student successfully reached the camp.
As the altitude increased, however, some students began to experience the effects of altitude sickness. While many acclimatised well, others found the conditions more challenging, highlighting the physical demands of trekking at high elevation.
The third day focused on acclimatisation and recovery. Students who were experiencing symptoms safely descended the mountain with staff support, while others completed an acclimatisation walk to 4,450m to help prepare for a summit attempt. Following this walk, a small number of students remained at camp to recover and prioritise their wellbeing.
In the early hours of day four, the summit group began their final push. Setting off at 2:30am, students faced cold temperatures, steep terrain and the ongoing challenge of the altitude. Along the way, some students once again developed symptoms of altitude sickness and had to turn back.
The group eventually reached an impressive altitude of 4,833m, just 152m below the summit, before making the difficult but responsible decision to descend. The safety and wellbeing of students remained the priority throughout the expedition.
After a short period of rest at Shipton’s Camp, the group began the long descent back towards Old Moses Camp.
While some students were tackling the mountain, others enjoyed a range of activities back at camp. These included bushcraft skills, spear throwing, archery, jewellery making with local Mamas, salsa dancing and time around the campfire. The activities provided opportunities for students to relax, recover and continue learning about local culture.
The final day saw the mountain group complete their descent and return to camp, where all students were reunited. Despite the understandable disappointment felt by some who were unable to continue higher on the mountain, spirits remained high across the group.
The expedition reinforced an important lesson: success is not always measured by reaching the highest point. Every student faced their own challenge and showed courage, resilience and determination throughout the journey.
As a team, the group achieved the remarkable milestone of reaching Shipton’s Camp at 4,200m. More importantly, they supported one another, overcame obstacles and demonstrated outstanding character throughout the trek.
The Mount Kenya challenge will be remembered not only for the heights reached, but also for the perseverance, teamwork and personal growth shown by every student along the way.
